Congrats to pro Manny Chau

many years ago Manny Chau was in hollywood billiards in Broward country florida on a tuesday night back when they use to run a really great weekly tournament there. It was usually 32+ players there and it was a handicapped event. Margie, the owner of the pool room rated players with your rating being the number of games you had to win. As a reference point, players who could just about break even playing the ghost 9ball were around 8-10ish. There was a few locals who could beat the 11 and maybe 12b ghost that were rated 11s.

So no one knew Manny and as im paying Margie to get in myself, Manny comes up to Margie to sign up. Usually Margie would put unknowns in as 9s or maybe 10s. She asks Manny so how do you play? Manny without hesitating says, I play very well. Margie pauses and looks at him and says. Really good? like really, really good? Manny goes yes.... I play very well. Margie then says ok im going to put you in as (I think it was) a 12. He shrugged and said ok thank you.

I didnt know who the guy was but I sat and watched him play after this and I was not only impressed with his game but that conversation really impressed me as well. He could have easily have tried to sneak into the event as an 8 or a 9 and instead was very open to Margie about his great ability on the table. Also keep in mind that this was an action room with regular 4 figure sets going down. After that whenever I would see his name on a tournament bracket I would always be rooting to see him advance.
 
uwate said:
many years ago Manny Chau was in hollywood billiards in Broward country florida on a tuesday night back when they use to run a really great weekly tournament there. It was usually 32+ players there and it was a handicapped event. Margie, the owner of the pool room rated players with your rating being the number of games you had to win. As a reference point, players who could just about break even playing the ghost 9ball were around 8-10ish. There was a few locals who could beat the 11 and maybe 12b ghost that were rated 11s.

So no one knew Manny and as im paying Margie to get in myself, Manny comes up to Margie to sign up. Usually Margie would put unknowns in as 9s or maybe 10s. She asks Manny so how do you play? Manny without hesitating says, I play very well. Margie pauses and looks at him and says. Really good? like really, really good? Manny goes yes.... I play very well. Margie then says ok im going to put you in as (I think it was) a 12. He shrugged and said ok thank you.

I didnt know who the guy was but I sat and watched him play after this and I was not only impressed with his game but that conversation really impressed me as well. He could have easily have tried to sneak into the event as an 8 or a 9 and instead was very open to Margie about his great ability on the table. Also keep in mind that this was an action room with regular 4 figure sets going down. After that whenever I would see his name on a tournament bracket I would always be rooting to see him advance.
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His game is pretty good these days! Texas Open, Panamerican champion, etc!
 
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